Questions for post-op

LBL - how long were you swollen above the back incision from lipo? Did the drain holes take some time to close? Did they heal well? How long did you wear your garment?

BL - how long were your stiches in until the doc removed? Also, does the breast lift drop at all? How long did you wear your garment? Did you switch to a sports bra? How long until measured for new bra size?
 
I am extremely happy so far, just a few questions! Thanks!

I didn't have LBL but I did have lipo on the back and at 9 weeks I am still very swollen/lumpy in the back. I am told it is one of the last places for swelling to go down when the area is disturbed.

My Bellini breast lift sutures came out at day 13. Mine did drop a little but not sure what difference between regular BL and Bellini (donut) lift. I got measured about 5 weeks. I switched to sports bra at night/gym time at week 6. And started wearing regular bra during the day at 6 weeks.

I am still wearing my body garment. Tried anoter experiment last night by taking mine off to see if swelling from daytime would go away if it was off at night...NOT...woke up with a bigger tummy..humph

Tammy

Thanks Tammy, did the little holes where the drains were close up completely? How long did that take? Also, my doc said I have liquid above my butt, but he said this will go down. I can't wait...no definition to that area of my body at all.

I didn't have drains in the back area but had lipo incisions. One was a bugger to close up..took about 4 weeks. The drains in my mons area closed up pretty quick but the drain holes for my thighs which were at the very end of the thigh incisions did not close up quickly at all. It was actually pretty weird because it looked like it healed with a hole about the size of half of a pensil eraser or so but eventually it healed from the inside out and closed up.

These are good questions!

I had LBL -- I am still swollen ALL OVER at six months.  In fact, I'm more swollen now than I was three months ago, because I don't really understand what "REST MORE" means, and I can't get a clear answer on that one.  Or else I'm really dense.  Probably both of these things are true.  I had drainage (after drains were removed) for about 8 weeks, yuck.  I grew very fond of gauze and of being wrapped!  And six months later, I'm still wearing a garment.

I'm going to be swollen for longer than other people because of Other Health Issues Unrelated to the Surgery (I hear this a lot).  Everything is healing beautifully, but I'm still really really swollen.  

I had LBL with no Lipo and now 7 weeks after, I am not swollen at all.  I only wear my garment when excercising.  I'm surprised that so many people are still swollen.  my drains came out, one after 2 weeks the  other after about 4.

Both my drains came out at 1 week, thank goodness! Did the little holes close completely up? And how long did it take them?

yes they closed up completely, although I have two indents where they were.  the surgeon, said he could fix that if I wanted.

 I did not have a LBL yet (scheduled in march) but I had a breast lift (no implants) 8 months ago. My stitches were dissolvable. I switched to a form fitting sports bra 2 weeks after surgery when I went back to work. I felt it gave me more support at my busy job (nurse). I switched back to my surgical bra after work and to sleep in (more comfortable). You will drop a little at about 4-6 months. This is why some docs prefer to wait  6 months to place implants too(breasts may drop and implants don't) to avoid another minor surgery revision later. I had trouble finding a bra that I liked at first so I just waited until my breasts settled and swelling went down. I just kept wearing my sports bras until about a month ago when I found some bras that I love. 

My drain holes closed fairly fast.  the scar are hardly noticable.  I have to look for them.  Loris